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Letters to the Editor, Friday, Aug. 23

Aug 23 2013 12:01 am

More distractions

While I applaud the Town of Mount Pleasant for taking the leadership role, and the City of Charleston which hopes to follow (Aug. 17, “Holy City takes up texting at the wheel”), I feel these new ordinances should have been taken a step further.

Unless a driver has Bluetooth in his vehicle or an ear- plug, he should not be talking on a cell phone. If your phone rings while you are driving, you have to find the phone in your purse or pants pocket and hit the answer button. Like texting, that requires taking your eyes off the road. Just a moment of inattention while driving can lead to serious damage to the driver, passengers and other motorists or pedestrians.

Individuals, it appears, cannot manage their addiction to “being connected” at all times, so government must make it law with appropriate fines and punishment.

Please, Mayor Riley and council members, consider making the City of Charleston’s ordinance state “the only acceptable cell phone use while driving is with a ‘hands free’ system.”

I am sure thousands of people in our community will thank you.

Faye Seigel

Rice Field Lane

Mount Pleasant

Enough already

The Veronica story is interesting and emotion-filled for all those involved, but much like the Sofa Superstore fire or Mark Sanford’s situation, do we need a front-page, blow-by-blow every single day?

It shows disrespect by addressing what many agree is a private matter. As a reader, I lose interest in a story when it’s reported ad nauseam.

Rick Estee

Johnnie Dodds Boulevard

Mount Pleasant

Fair comic game

At a recent rodeo in Missouri, a rodeo clown posed as President Obama, donned a mask and did a skit. This was all in good fun as has been the case when comedians have donned masks and mimicked previous presidents.

The Missouri chapter of the NAACP wants a Department of Justice investigation for a violent, racial attack of their savior. Rodeo clowns and comedy have now become racial and violent? Really?

Wally Reddington Jr.

M/Sgt. U.S. Air Force

(Retired)

Durrell Court

Goose Creek

Who’s in charge?

Nancy Pelosi, in all her wisdom, said something like, “just pass it, so we can find out what’s in it.” So Congress passed Obamacare.

Then they found out what was in it and decided they wanted no part of it. So they got themselves exempted. And they got some of their friends, like the unions, exempted.

It seems to me, the right thing would be for Congress and the other exempted elite to try out Obamacare for themselves and exempt the rest of us. Then, if it works, they could include us.

Would someone please tell our elected officials that they are supposed to represent us, not rule over us? Some of them do not understand this.

B.J. Angelos

Highway 162

Hollywood

Wrong wording

An article on page B3 of the Aug. 20 Post and Courier provides an example of poor use of language.

The headline said, “Woman in boat struck by train trestle on river,” and the last sentence said, “… a boat went under a train trestle … when Crozier was hit by the trestle.”

The language suggests that train trestles are lurking and occasionally slamming into people. The reality is that the unfortunate woman hit the train trestle, not the other way around.

James Carew

Dogwood Road

Charleston

The best judge

Here’s a simple solution to the Veronica custody dilemma:

A federal judge should be appointed to order Veronica, the Browns and the Capobiancos to meet in his chambers privately without lawyers.

Then ask Veronica which couple she would want to live with for the next 20 years.

Her decision would be final. After all, it’s about the child, isn’t it, and not the wrangling between the two couples?

Carl Nandrasy

Olympic Lane

Mount Pleasant

Freedom phones

My brother-in-law’s phone will not allow him to text while he is driving. They lived in Connecticut where it is indeed illegal to text while driving.

Remember, Connecticut was also one of the original 13 states and freedom was on the minds of these 13.

Marshall Heiden

Highway 162

Hollywood

Trash volunteer

Yes, I am performing community service when you see me picking up trash along the road in our neighborhood, because I desire a litter-free roadway to my house and those of my good neighbors. I learned many years ago that if you want something done, you must do it yourself.

I know who you litterers are. You smoke Newports, Marlboros, Salems, Cigarillos, etc., and often use smokeless tobacco products.

You drink vodka, beer, cheap wine and soft drinks by the ton, then make a sport of throwing the containers with great force at trees, signposts and culverts.

You eat fast food and leave wrappers, condiments, cups, straws, bags and plastic containers on the roadside. You toss out cigarette butts, tissues, napkins, plastic cups, baby diapers and all manner of trash — all to be cut into a million pieces when the roadside is mowed. Apparently you have plenty of money because twice I’ve found a $10 bill.

I am concerned that your children are following your example because I find broken toys, Kool-Aid and Capri Sun containers.

Do you know who you are? Do you know Whose you are? This is my father’s world. Littering is disrespectful to Him and to your neighbors. I’ll thank you to just stop it.

M.K. Booker

Wildgame Road

Summerville

Drama and dance

Many thanks for the recent Charleston Scene article on the College of Charleston’s current productions of “Hamlet” and “Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead.”

My wife and I lucked into learning about the Department of Theatre and Dance last year and have thoroughly enjoyed each production.

This year’s eight productions (usually one each month) offer a wide-range of drama, music and dance. The performance schedule for the current productions and for all this season’s program is online at www.theatre.cofc.edu.

Please continue to publicize productions. Our community is fortunate to have theatre of this caliber available and for such an economical price.

James Newell

Plantation House Road

Summerville

Common mistake

As the children in our state begin a new school year I would like to recommend parents become acquainted with the term “Common Core Standards.” Adopted by the South Carolina Board of Education and the South Carolina Oversight Committee in 2010, Common Core is a one-size-fits-all, top-down curriculum promoted by the federal Department of Education.

State schools were promised millions of federal dollars in exchange for the implementation of Common Core.

Many parents, grandparents and educators are concerned that we have now abdicated state control of our schools to the federal government.

There are many aspects of the standards which should concern all parents, such as “teaching to the test,” loss of teacher creativity in the classroom and the years of data collection to which our children will be subjected.

If you have an interest in the education of South Carolina’s children and believe the state of South Carolina should remain in charge of the curriculum used, please go to the website www.commoncorefails.com for more information.

Wanda M. Benton

Vox Highway

Johnsonville

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